Antirattle r for thill-couplings



(No Model.)

T. HENDERSON. ANTIRA-TTLER FOB THILL COUPLINGS.-

Patented Nov. 30, 189 7.

.nllllmm Ilivrrn TATES :ATENT 'rrrcs.

THOMASHENDERSON, OF WEST SALEM, OHIO.

ANTIRATTLER FOR THILL=GOUPLINGS.

SPECIFICATION forming-part of Letters Patent No. 594,626, dated November 30, 1897.

Application filed August 4, 1897.

T0 aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THoMAs HENDERSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at West Salem, in the county of Wayne and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Antirattlers for Vehicles; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and eXact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to antirattlers for t-hill-couplings of vehicles; and it consists in 'certain details of construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter set forth and described in the specification, illustrated in the drawings, and pointed out in the claims. Its object is an inexpensive, convenient, and effective antirattler that may be easily and quickly applied to any ordinary thill-coupling by any person Without detaching the thill from the clip or removing the coupling-bolt.

In the case of nearly all antirattlers in present use either the clip or thill coupling is required to be specially adapted for them or it is necessary when applying them to remove the coupling-bolt and detach the thill-irons from the clip.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical section showing the clip and thilliron of ordinary construction with my antirattler in place. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of my device. Fig. 3 is a like View showing a modification in the top or retaining portion. Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the various parts of which my device is composed.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, in which like letters indicate like parts, A represents the ordinary clip secured to the axle of avehicle provided with the perforated ears B.

O is the thill-iron, provided with the eye 0 to fit within or between the ears B of the clips.

D is the coupling-bolt.

E is the main or body portion of my device, which is'a hook-shaped holder the shank or upper end of which is made of a width to fit or pass between the ears B of the shackle or clip and is provided with a transverse slot or opening e, adapted to receive a key F. Its

lower end is curved outward and upward, as

Serial No. 647,020. (No model.)

shown in Figs. 1 and 4, and provided with a screw-threaded aperture '21 to receive a setscrew II, having any suitably-shaped head. Said set-screw is also. provided with a setnut h.

The key F is at its ends of a Width corresponding tothe opening 9 and provided with a recess f in its upper edge corresponding in length to the width of the shank of the holder E, so that when in place its upper edge is flush with the top of said piece, as shown in Fig. 2. It is also provided with shoulders f at one end and a transverse slot or opening 6 at the opposite end, the former designed to act as a stop and the latter to receive an auxiliary key g, usually of leather, to prevent it from dropping out and getting lost when the antirattler is not in use.

I is a curved bearing-plate provided on its convex side with a recess or depression to receive the end of the set-screw upon which it rests. Upon its inner or concave bearing-surface is provided a lining composed of copper, graphite, or other equivalent antifriction substance. This bearing-plate is adapted to fit 'and afford a bearing for the under side of the thill-eye and enable it to work freely without friction and consequent wear.

When applying my device, the shank of the holder E is inserted between the ears B of the clip in the rear of the eye of the thill-iron until the opening 6 is sufficiently above the ears to receive the key F. The latter is then inserted in the opening e, as shown in Fig. 2, and the set-screw H forces the plate I up ward against the under face of the eye 0 of the thill-iron, as shown in Fig. 1, and the setnut h is screwed to place. When employing the modified form shown in Fig. 3, in which the key or retaining portion it is made integral with the shank of the holder E, it may be inserted through the space in rear of the eye of the thill-iron by turning the shank to an oblique angle to permit the points It to pass through the opening, said points being made sufficiently short to enable them to pass through the space afforded when turned to such angle and still rest upon said ears when turned to right angles.

I am aware that antirattlers have been constructed with a set-screw designed to force a axle; and provided with a transverse opening in its upper end, and a shouldered key adapted to pass through and fit said transverse opening in the shank and rest upon the upper edge of the ears; and a bearing-block provided with an antifriction lining, controlled by a set-screw projecting through the bottom of the holder adapted to bear against the under face of the thill-iron, substantially as described.

2. In an antirattlcr for thill-couplings, the combination with the axle-clip and thill-iron, of the hook-shaped holder having an elongated shank adapted to project between and above the ears of the clip in rear of the eye of the thill-iron, and provided with a transverse opening in its top; and akey provided with a recess in its upper edge corresponding in width to the upper end of the holder; and a bearing-block resting in the curved bottom of the holder and controlled by a set-screw projecting through said curved bottom, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I ai'fix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS HENDERSON.

IVitnesses:

J. R. DRUSHAL, J. V. GART. 

